A Geelong community group has rejected claims that a local solar power program’s fixed-rate plan “doesn’t add up” for consumers.
Geelong Sustainability was among local groups partnering New South Wales’ ShineHub to promote the plan and others at recent Geelong Community Solar Program forums.
Unaligned industry figures criticised the fixed-rate plan in last week’s Indy, warning of a “bad deal” for consumers and raising concerns about a heading ‘Free System Solar’ in associated marketing material.
But Geelong Sustainability’s Vicky Perrett defended the plan on Thursday, saying “there should be no confusion” about how it works.
“Households are provided a solar and battery system for zero upfront cost. They simply pay for the electricity the system produces at a low fixed rate,” Ms Perrett said.
“If this scheme isn’t a good fit for a particular household, ShineHub won’t allow them to sign up for it.”
Ms Perrett rejected claims the fixed-rate plan’s “numbers don’t add up’
“The fixed-rate plan adds up quite nicely for higher energy users who spend over $500 a quarter. Some customers that came to the events are able to save 30 per cent straight away and have that price locked in long into the future, with all maintenance, product replacement costs included.”
Ms Perrett said claims that fixed-rate plan customers could “get rolled” were “highly misleading and inaccurate”.
“ShineHub assesses the situation of every individual household with a full system engineering process and offer solutions accordingly, whether that be purchasing a solar system outright, taking out a personal loan or signing up for a fixed rate plan.”
Ms Perrett said six community groups and three councils supported the program locally.
“ShineHub makes significant donations back to all of the communities they visit. ShineHub’s community partners help to develop the program by spreading the word and picking the best solar companies and payment options for local residents.
“The program also supports local businesses, with seven vetted local solar companies being part of the program. This program is the first step in setting up for a shared community energy model called a ‘virtual powerplant’, which, based on the volume of orders, should commence later this year or early next year.”
Ms Perrett said all the initiative’s community organisation partners remained “firmly behind the program”.
ShineHub chief Alex Georgiou described the company as a “solar marketplace comparing all the best available options for our customers”.
“We do this in partnership with the local communities we visit,” he said
“ShineHub partners with local community groups who share our vision to replace big energy with community solar. ShineHub’s community partners helped to develop the Geelong Community Solar Program by spreading the word to local residents and picking the best solar companies, products, and payment options available.
Mr Georgiou said ShineHub was under attack from “rival solar companies upset by the fact we are disrupting the status quo”.
“The Geelong Community Solar Program will not only help hundreds of households reduce their electricity bills, it has also unlocked the possibility of Geelong becoming home to one of Australia’s first ‘virtual powerplants’. Due to the overwhelming interest in the campaign, we are in discussion with multiple technology providers and electricity companies and we are negotiating the best deals for the community as we speak, with expected rollout at the end of this year.”
Letters page 12
